In the 50s we got a new TV (can't remember the brand) with what was called the "clicker". The remote had two buttons, each of which generated a different (ha ha) "click". The volume button cycled around through a series of preset volume levels, while the channel button cycled through the standard VHF channels 2-13.

The sound generated was not particularly subtle; dropping a set of keys onto the floor would often change either the volume or the channel, at random.

To this day, we refer to any remote as a clicker.